The UN Security Council postponed its scheduled Friday vote on authorizing defensive force to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, citing the Good Friday holiday despite the date being known when the vote was first announced.
Bahrain's draft resolution would allow member states to use "all defensive means necessary" to secure transit through the strategic waterway, which Iran has effectively blockaded in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that triggered the month-old Middle East conflict.
We cannot accept economic terrorism affecting our region and the world, the whole world is being affected by the developments
Jamal Alrowaiei, Bahrain's UN Ambassador — Al-Monitor
The delay comes as global markets show signs of cautious optimism about potential resolution. Japan's Nikkei index rallied 1.31% Friday morning on hopes for restored Gulf oil shipments, though the benchmark remains down for the week.
Iran's stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of global oil passes — has disrupted supplies of petroleum, liquefied natural gas, and fertilizers, sending energy prices soaring worldwide.
France 24 presents the story as a developing diplomatic crisis with global economic implications. The outlet emphasizes the international scope of the problem while noting Trump's escalating threats against Iranian infrastructure.
Al-Monitor focuses on the procedural aspects of the UN delay and diplomatic maneuvering behind the resolution. The outlet provides detailed coverage of the various amendments made to address Security Council concerns.
Spiegel Online briefly covers the resolution proposal and notes the involvement of veto powers Russia, China, and France in shaping the text. The German outlet presents this as a question of whether the Security Council can reach consensus.
Infobae provides comprehensive coverage of the postponement and its implications for global energy markets. The Argentine outlet emphasizes the economic terrorism framing and the uncertainty facing international commerce.
The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on Friday on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said, but veto-wielding China made clear its opposition to any authorization of the use of force.
UN to vote on Hormuz resolution as China opposes authorization of force | Reuters
President Trump warned the U.S. "hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran," and previewed that strikes on bridges and power plants could be next.
Live Updates: As Iran war rages on and oil prices rise, Trump says U.S. "hasn't even started destroying what's left"
Several permanent members of the Security Council opposed the resolution, drafted by Bahrain in coordination with its Gulf neighbors, officials said.
A Bid to Use Force to Open Strait of Hormuz Hits U.N. Roadblocks - The New York Times
The draft resolution underwent multiple revisions to address concerns from key Security Council members. The final version removes explicit reference to Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which authorizes military force, instead emphasizing the purely defensive nature of any intervention.
It is up to the Council to quickly devise the necessary defensive response
Jerome Bonnafont, France's UN Ambassador — Al-Monitor
France had initially expressed skepticism about military action, with President Emmanuel Macron calling such operations "unrealistic." The revised language appears designed to address French concerns while maintaining operational flexibility.
Russia and China, both wielding Security Council vetoes, remain critical of the initiative. Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong warned that authorizing force would "legitimize illegal use," though the full quote was cut off in available reports.
The resolution would authorize either unilateral action by member states or "voluntary multinational naval partnerships" for at least six months. President Trump has signaled reduced US willingness to protect shipping for other nations, telling countries to "go get your own oil."
The US military hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants
Donald Trump, US President — France 24
Trump's escalating rhetoric about targeting Iranian infrastructure adds urgency to diplomatic efforts. His social media posts warned that Iran's leadership "knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!"
The postponement leaves global energy markets in continued uncertainty. No new date has been set for the Security Council vote, though diplomatic sources suggest discussions continue behind closed doors as the economic impact of the blockade intensifies.